We have approximately 9 cubic feet of glbt records ranging from fully processed to semi-processed to unprocessed. Many of the colelctions are made up of event flyers, and programs, advertisements, pamphlets, and other ephemera. There are some photographs, two videotapes, several audiotapes, and one business journal/notebook. We also house the organizational records of two local defunct glbt political and social groups.

Collections:

The Robert Ashworth CollectionBiographical Note: Robert Ashworth is a politically active member of the gay and lesbian community in Bellingham. Some of his work includes a compiled group of papers documenting the activities of the Sexual Minority Center, a student association at Western Washington University.Scope and Content Note: The collection consists of the group's by-laws, posters, newsletter, press releases, correspondence, budget and financial records, an audiotape of a WWSC gay symposium on KMGI radio's Impact show, and memorabilia. This collection is a rich resource for the study of gender and sexuality and gay and lesbian political activity in the Pacific Northwest region in the 1970's.

Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscripts CollectionHistorical Note: This collection consists of information about events and activities in the Bellingham and Whatcom County gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.Scope and Content Note: The collection currently contains several miscellaneous manuscripts (notes, minutes, and contact information) about a traveling women's coffeehouse, circa early 1990's, an incomplete run of a local lesbian publication called "The L Word"", circa early mid-1990's. There are also several Pacific Northwest Women's Music & Cultural Jamboree programs circa early-1990's.

Hands off Washington CollectionHistorical Note: The organization Hands off Washington (H.O.W.) was created to defeat Washington State initiatives 608 and 610 that threatened the civil rights of state and local public employees based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation.Scope and Content Note: The collection consists of the organization's financial records, press releases, fundraising events, e-mails, office logs, pamphlets, newsletter and other printed materials, state level strategies, other like-minded groups, subject files relating to gay and lesbian issues, videotapes, audiotapes, opposition files and newspaper clippings, letters to the editor (for and against) the initiatives and gay and lesbian rights, workshop information, and speakers. The collection also includes copies of Washington State initiatives 608 and 610.

Collecting Interests: Collections focus on organizations and individuals in the Pacific Northwest including the band Motherlode, Hands off Washington, as well as Bellingham and WWU groups.